Set in rural Massachusetts, the series chronicles the heroic struggles of Jo Bhaer (the Jo March character of Little Women) as she attempts to manage Plumfield, a boarding school for boys, after the tragic death of her husband Fritz.
A student brings a case of the measles back to Plumfield, so the doctor quarantines the school.
Amy reluctantly agrees to send her daughter to Plumfield after Jo enrolls the school's first girl, and Nick plans on returning to the sea.
Dan is overjoyed when a friend from Boston shows up at Plumfield, but Nat is none too thrilled.
When Nat discovers a poor black family camping within the Plumfield grounds, everyone learns that prejudice can take many forms.
While out looking for the perfect Christmas tree, Nick and the boys come upon a severely injured woman. Everyone pitches in to help her, but also struggle with their first Christmas without Mr. Bhaer and certain loved ones.
Laurie donates a library's-worth of books to Plumfield, which inspires Franz to assign a project on philanthropy and reveals Nick's illiteracy. In the meantime, Jo's beloved horse falls ill, and chances of recovery look grim.
Meg is taken with an associate of Laurie's while Dan and Bess are at each other's throats as they're paired up for a science project.
Asia's father arrives in Concord for an unbidden reunion while Nick takes a temporary job at the Mr. Gerson's general store, where he finds some unbidden attention of his own
Nat asks Nick to enter a father-son ski tournament with him, so Jo must teach Nick how to ski. Laurie offers to be Dan's father for the day, which gives Nan an interesting idea.
Amy commandeers Plumfield for an evening in order to impress a high society lady while Dan goes on a vision-quest to find his identity.